Reversing device for geared travelers.



- LB. HOWE. REVBRSING DEVICE FOR GEARED TRAVELBRS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1911.

Patented June 13,1911.

MIIIIIII JOSEPH B. HOWE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 SYDNEYHARWOOD AND JOI-IN H. HARWOOD, COPARTNER-S, UNDER THE FIRM-NAME ANDSTYLE OF GEORGE S. HARWOOD & SON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

REVERSING- DEVICE FOR GEARED TRAVELERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that JOSEPH B. Hown, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Worcester, in the county of lVorcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in ReversingDevices for Geared Travelers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to feeding mechanisms for oarding machines, andconsists principally in certain improvements in the reversing devicesfor geared travelers of the character shown and described in Letterslatcnt of the United States No. 866,726, granted to Harry Kemp, Sept.24, 1907. Reference may be had to that patent for a full description ofthe general construction and mode of operation of feeding mechanisms andreversing devices heretofore used, to which my present improvement isparticularly adapted; and it will therefore be unnecessary to describesaid feeding mechanism or reversing device in detail in thisspecification, since my present invention relates rather to improvementsin the reversing device for the geared traveler, or knock-off as it istermed in the trade, to reverse the rocker at each end of itsreciprocatory movement, than to the feeding machine as a whole.

Experience with feeding mechanisms built according to the aforesaidpatent has demon strated that when the traveler or carrier strikes thereversing stops or abutments 71,6 to reverse the rocker G, so great astrain is thrown on the pin or linger link carried by the driving chainD, which reciprocates the carrier E, that the pin or finger is likely tobreak, thus necessitating frequent renewals. This results not only inthe trouble and eX- pense of attaching new finger pieces from time totime, but also in the idleness of the entire carding machine as well asof the feeding mechanism while the repairs are being performed. It hasalso been found that when the traveler strikes the abutment it it has atendency to jump or swing away from the frame, thereby at times throwingboth gears g out of mesh with the rack K, disarranging the sliver, andpreventing proper reversal of the rocker. It will be understood that thegears are held in engagement with the rack only by gravity, the travelerbeing hung on the guide rod B, and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led February 25, 1911.

Patented June 13, 1911.

serial No. 610,740.

capable of being swung awayv from the frame. It has also been found thatwhen the traveler is being operated slowly, for eX- ample, when the cardis being started up or stopped, and the traveler happens to be at theend of the frame moving slowly, the rocker at times fails to reverse atall, since it requires something of an impact or blow against thereversing abutment h6 due to a reasonably swift movement of thetraveler, in order effectively to reverse the rocker.

The principal objects of the present invention are to relieve the strainon the chain pin or finger carried by the sprocket chain, therebyprolonging its life; to hold the car rier from swinging or jumping awayfrom the frame while the rocker is being reversed; and to insure theproper reversal of the rocker when the traveler is moving slowly as wellas when it is moving swiftly.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention,-Figure 1 is afront elevation, partly broken away, of a feeding mechanism for cardingmachines embodying one form of my improved reversing device; and Fig. 2is a horizontal section of said feeding mechanism, partly broken away,the sectional view at the left hand end of the figure being takenthrough the center of the lower bridge slot, and the sectional view atthe right hand end of the figure being taken through the center of theupper bridge slot.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the bridge and B the guide rodupon which is hung the traveler, the two parts together constituting thelusual frame of a diagonal card feed. The traveler, which isreciprocated by a chain D supported by sprocket wheels D, comprises thecarrier E, the swivel plate or rocker Gr pivoted thereto, the feed rollsy and the gears g, the latter coperating alternately with the rack K.The brackets H on which are supported the sprockets D are fastened tothe bridge A by bolts 7L extending through longitudinal slots h2. Thereversing stop or abutment shown at It projects through a secondlongitudinal slot h4 into the path of the lug g3 on the rocker G. Thestop 7L@ is adjustably fastened to the bracket H in a slot ha oppositethe slot h4 in the bridge, and is clamped to said bracket by the nut71,10.

The construction and mode of operation of the parts thus far mentionedmay all be as shown in the aforesaid patent, are well known in the art,and will be understood without further description.

lVIy present invention consists essentially in providing for each end ofthe feeding mechanism a pair of rocker-actuating members, one of whichis on the rocker, and the other of which is fixed with relation thereto,one of said members having a cam or wedgelike surface adapted to engagethe other member to swing the rocker toward its reverse position as thecarrier approaches the end of its travel. Conceivably, the entirerev-ersing movement of the rocker could be performed by my presentdevice, but it is preferably used as an auxiliary reversing` device inconnection with the reversing stop hereinbefore described. 1n thepreferred form of my improvement the cam member is that which is xedwith relation to the moving member, which is mounted on the carrier. Asherein shown the device comprises certain attachments which may bereadily secured to feeding mechanisms such as that shown in theaforesaid patent.

R represents the base of a bracket, which may be termed the knock-offbracket, secured to the front face of the bridge A by the same bolt 77,which secures the bracket H to the opposite side of the bridge A.Extending forwardly from the base R, and diagonally in the direction ofthe end of the frame is the arm 7, the outer end of which is providedwith a slot r which extends substantially parallel with the bridge. A.block r2, the inner face of which is inclined or beveled to form a camsurface r3, is adjustably secured to the end of the arm r by means of abolt r* which passes through the slot r. 1t will be understood that asimilar bracket and cam block is provided at each end of the frame,identical in all respects save that they face in opposite directions. 1norder that the bracket may be rigidly held in position it is providedwith a tongue ri, which projects into the slot h2 of the bridge, thuspreventing any tendency of the bracket to swing on bolt 7L as a pivot;and in order to insure the keeping of the sprocket bracket Hand theknock-off bracket in the same relative position, a dowel pin r6 isprovided which projects from said tongue into a hole bored therefor inthe bracket H. As the abutment It and the auxiliary bracket are thusboth connected with the same stand, H, it will be observed that wheneverthe stand H is adjusted lengthwise of the frame, the abutment 716 andauxiliary reversing block r2 will be adjusted together on the framewithout disturbing their relative adjustment. Thus said two parts areadjustable both independently and together.

Secured to each inner corner of the rocker G is a post or stud s, which,in the form herein illustrated, stands upright on a base s screwed tothe top surface of the rocker G.

It will be remembered that in whichever direction the carrier may bemoving it is the rear one for the time` being of the two gears whichengages the rack K, and consequently the forward one of the two studs swhich is the more removed from the bridge. As the carrier approachest-he end of its travel the forward stud or post 8 engages the camsurface r3, and as the carrier advances farther, said cam surfacecoperating with said stud will cause the rocker G to swing on its pivot,tending to withdraw the rear gear from the rack and to swing the forwardgear toward the rack. rl`he cam surface 713 is so adjusted with relationto the final reversing stop its, and the operation of the parts is sotimed, that the stud s will meet the cam surface 1"* a little before thelug g3 meets the stop 71,6, thus causing the initial part of thereversing movement of the rocker G to be performed by the auxiliaryreversing device. After the rocker has been partially reversed the lugg3 will engage the stop it and positively effect the final reversal ofthe rocker G. At the left hand end of Fig. 2 the parts are shown ust asthe forward stud s has reached the cam surface, during the movement ofthe trav eler toward the left, and before any movement of reversal hasbegun. By making t-he stop 7L and the cam r2 relatively adjustable asdescribed, it will be obvious that the timing of the successiveoperations of the parts may be regulated so as to throw more or lesswork, as desired, upon the auxiliary reversing device. Or the entirereversal of the rocker may be accomplished by the cam or wedge device,and the reversing stop It dispensed with altogether.` I believe howeverthat the best results will be obtained by using my new device as anauxiliary device in conjunction with the reversing stops heretoforeemployed, so that the initial part of the reversing movement will beeffected by t-he auxiliary (cam and post) device, and the final andcompleted movement of reversal by the stops heretofore used.

1t will be seen that as the reversing of the rocker is accomplished inwhole or in part by the sliding engagement between the post s and thecam surface r3, the latter of which has a wedge-like action much moregentle and gradual, and requiring much less force, than that of theabutment LG, the shock and strain thrown on the chain finger or pin Z inreversing the 'rocker is greatly reduced; also that as the cam surfaceengages the post s on its outer side all possibility of the travelerjumping away from the bridge during the reversing movement iseliminated; and that the wedge-like action of the cam will reverse therocker with equal certainty whether the traveler is moving slowly orswiftly, since it does not depend o-n a blow for its certainty ofoperation as does the abutment h6 when used alone.

Tn order to prevent the chain finger or pin CZ from working out of itsguide slot c in the carrier E, an idler sprocket wheel T is provided,carried by a bracket t, adjustably mounted on the bridge A by a boltpassing through the bridge and through a vertical slot z5 in the brackett. This idler sprocket is placed at the center of the bridge and holdsthe upper stretch of the chain D in proper alinement so that the chainfinger ci while on the upper stretch will not work out of its slot inthe carrier. The bracket t may be provided with an upwardly andforwardly projecting guard 152 to hold the chain in engagement with thesprocket T. The lower stretch of the chain may be permitted to sagslightly, as shown, and the outer sides of the posts s will prevent thechain from swinging away from the carrier far enough to withdraw thefinger d from its slot, when said finger is on the lower stretch of thechain, as the lower stretch of the chain along its middle and lowestportion will pass between the posts s and the slotted part e of carrierE.

The improvements hereinbefore described may be readily applied asattachments to existing machines, as well as to new machines speciallyconstructed therefor'.

In order properly to adjust the reversing or knock-off devices thefollowing course is recommended: Bring the traveler to its eXtreme endposition with the rocker Gr in the position it would assume after beingreversed; then set the reversing stop h6 so that it will just touch thelug g3 on the rocker; then reverse the rocker to its opposite positionand move the traveler until the lug g3 is about of an inch (in a machineof the standard commercial size) from the stop 7L then set the cam blockr2 so that its cam surface r3 will just touch the post s on the rocker.By adjusting the parts in substantially this manner, the successiveactionof the auxiliary reversing device and the final reversing stopwill be properly timed to secure the best results, in a machineconstructed substantially as shown in the drawings.

I claim:

l. ln a. feeding mechanism for carding machines, a carrier, mechanism toreciprocate said carrier, a rocker mounted on said carrier, a rack, apair of gears in train mounted on said rocker and adapted to engage saidrack one at a time, and a pair of rockeractuating members for each endof the feeding mechanism, one of the members of each air being carriedby said rocker and the other fixed with relation thereto, and one ofsaid members having a cam surface inclined with relation to the path ofthe carrier, and

adapted to cooperate with the other member to swing said rocker as thecarrier approaches the end of its travel.

2. In a feeding mechanism for carding machines, a carrier, mechanism toreciprocate said carrier, a rocker mounted on said carrier, a rack, apair of gears in train mounted on said rocker and adapted to engage saidrack one at a time, and a pair of rocker-actuating members for each endof the feeding mechanism, one of the members of each pair being carriedby said rocker and the other iiXed with relation thereto, and one ofsaid members having a cam surface inclined with relation to the path ofthe carrier, and adapted to coperate with the other member to swing saidrocker as the carrier approaches the end of its travel, said fixedmember adapted to engage the outer side of the rocker member, therebypreventing said carrier from swinging away from said rack during thereversing movement of the rocker.

3. In a feeding mechanism for carding machines, a carrier, mechanism toreciprocate said carrier, a rocker mounted on said carrier, a rack, apair of gears in train mounted on said rocker and adapted to engage saidrack one at a time, and a pair of rocker-actuating members for each endof the feeding mechanism, one of the members of each pair being carriedby said rocker and the other fixed with relation thereto, the fixedmember being provided with a cam surface inclined with relation to thepath of the carrier, and adapted to coperatie with the other member toswing said rocker as the carrier approaches the end of its travel.

4. In a feeding mechanism for carding machines, a carrier, mechanism toreciprocate said carrier, a rocker mounted on said carrier, a rack, apair of gears in train mounted on said rocker and adapted to engage saidrack one at a time, and a pair of rocker-actuating members for each endof the feeding mechanism, one of the members of each pair being carriedby said rocker and the other fixed with relation thereto, and one ofsaid members having a cam surface inclined with relation to the path ofthe carrier, and adapted to cooperate with the other member to swingsaid rocker as the carrier approaches the end of its tra-vel, and one ofthe members of each pair being adjustable with relation to the other.

. In a feeding mechanism for carding machines, a carrier, mechanism toreciprocate said carrier, a rocker mounted on said carrier, a rack, apair of gears in train mounted on said rocker and adapted to engage saidrack one at a time, a final reversing abutment adapted positively toreverse said rocker at the end of the travel of the carrier, and anauxiliary reversing device adapted to start the reversing movement ofthe rocker before the rocker isacted upon by said final reversingabutment.

6. In a feeding mechanism for carding machines, a carrier, mechanism toreciprocate said carrier, a rocker mounted on said carrier, a rack, apair of gears in train mounted on said rocker and adapted to engage saidrack one at al time, a final reversing abutment adapted positively toreverse said rocker at the end of the travel of the carrier, and anauxiliary reversingdevice adapted to start the reversing movement of therocker before the rocker is acted upon by said final reversing abutment,said auxiliary and final reversing devices being independentlyadjustable one With relation to the other, and also adjustable bothtogether with respect to the carrier frame Without disturbing theirrelative adjustment.

7. In a feeding mechanism for carding machines, a carrier, mechanism toreciprocate said carrier, a rocker mounted on said carrier, a rack, apair of gears in train mounted on said rocker and adapted to engage saidrack one at a time, a final reversing abutment adapted positively toreverse said rocker at the end of the travel ofthe carrier, andauxiliary reversing mechanism comprising a pair of rocker-actuatingmeinbers, one carried by said 4rocker and the other fixed with relationthereto, and one of said members having a cam surface inclined withrelation to the path of the carrier, and adapted to engage With theother member, said auxiliary mechanism being adapted to actuate saidrocker through the first part of its reversing movement, and said finalreversing abutment being adapted positively to complete said-reversingmove\ ment at the end of the travel of the carrier.

S. In -a feeding mechanism for carding machines, a carrier, mechanism toreciprocate said carrier, a rocker mounted on said' carrier, a rack, apair of gears iin train mounted on said rocker and yadapted to engagesaid rack one at a time, a Vfinal revers-V ing abutment adaptedpositively to reverse said rocker at the end of the travel of thecarrier, and auxiliary reversingmechanism comprising a pair ofrocker-actuating members, one carried by said rocker and the other fixedwith relationthereto, and one of said members having a cam surfaceinclined with relation to the path of the carrier, and adapted to engageWith the other member, said auxiliary mechanismbeing adapted to actuatesaid rocker through the first part of its reversing movement, and saidnal reversing abutment being adapted positively .to complete saidreversing movement at the end of the travel of the carrier, one at leastof the members of the auxiliary mechanism being adjustable, whereby thetiming of the action ofthe auxiliary mechanism With rela-tion to that ofsaid final reversing abutment may be regulated.

9. In a feeding 'mechanism for carding machines, a framea carriervmechanism to reciprocate said carrier, a rocker mounted on said ca1rier, a rack, a pair of gears in train mounted on said rocker andadapted to engage said rack one at a time, va post onveachlend of-saidrocker, `and Wedge-like rocker-actuating cams secured at theYends of theframe in the. paths of-said posts.

l0. In a feeding mechanism Afor carding machines, a frame,.a carrier,mechanism to reciprocate said carrier, a rocker mounted on saidcarrier,a rack, a pair of gears in train mounted on said rocker and adapted toengage said raclrone at a time, a post Aon each end of saidrocler,brackets secured to and projecting forward fromthe ends of said frame,and cam-blocks adjustably supported by said'brackets inthe paths ofvsaidposts.

Signed by yme at Boston, Massachusetts, this 2lst-day of February 1911.

.JOSEPH B. HOWE. W'itnesses CHARLESD- Voonmmr, JOSEPHINE RYAN.

Copies of thisvpatentmay 'be obtained forve cents each,by addressing theCommissioner of ;Patents, Washington, D. C.

